Good chance of a white Christmas in the Okanagan

OKANAGAN - Mother Nature looks prepared to give us a white Christmas this year, with a snow overnight and at least a chance of snow expected every day this weekend.

Environment Canada is calling for snowfall to end this morning, Dec. 18, and will be followed by a chance of rain or flurries later today. A total of two centimetres is expected today followed by at least a chance of snow through Christmas Eve.

Along with that chance of snow will be near-seasonal normal temperatures, with highs ranging from 3 C to -4 C and lows from -1 C to -5 C throughout the weekend. Seasonal normals temperatures range from a high of 0 C to a low of -5 C.

A total of 11 cm of snow and 5 millimetres of rain has been recorded at the Coquihalla Summit overnight while 15 cm of snow and 9 mm at the Pennask Summit on Highway 97C. Just 4 cm of snow has fallen on Highway 97 between Vernon and Kelowna.

Drive B.C. is reporting compact snow with slippery or slushy sections on most Interior highways, along with strong winds near the Pennask Summit.

If you are heading into the backcountry to play this weekend be aware of a moderate to considerable risk of avalanche throughout the region, according to Avalanche Canada.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Jennifer Stahn at jstahn@infonews.ca or call 250-819-3723. To contact an editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.

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